Friday, November 23, 2018

Paris: The Atelier

Some things defy description. There are simply no words.


The Atelier des Lumieres did that for me. It was my favorite thing in Paris. I would go back if I could. (The Klimt closed in January but the current experience is VanGogh and I would go in a heartbeat. That runs till December.)


All but speechless.


This was the one event I wanted a ticket for. I had such high expectations and that's always a dangerous thing.


Fortunately, I was not disappointed. In fact, I was overwhelmed.


You enter what was once a former foundry, built in the 19th century. It is enormous, with tall walls, some in the middle of a room. I would say it completely dark in the room, and in a way it is. And in a big way, it's far from it. You find yourself surrounded by light and images, playing out on all surfaces, the walls, the floor, the faces of those in attendance. The exhibition is described as "Immersion of Art and Music," and it is a perfect description.


The three programs, which run back to back, include magnificent images from the artist Gustave Klimt, along with two others. The one I thought most fun featured the work of late artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.


You watched magical looking cities appear before your very eyes with cars rolling through and rain falling. And yes, when the rain fell, the images on the floor were puddles!


I really loved the color and whimsy of this one and the sound track was delightful, too.


The other was titled AI. It was far more abstract.


But it was equally interesting, almost like watching a planetarium show.


And then came Klimt.


And it was magnificent. If I was impressed before, it paled by comparison.


These are video projections -- very good video projections -- accompanied by a musical soundtrack that is uplifting and inspiring.


What I found fascinating is that they were not synchronized. In other words, what might be on the wall straight ahead of you at any given time is not what might be on the wall adjacent or across the room.


The images morph into one another with beautiful dissolves, leaving you to feel you are in the midst of a storm or in a deep forest.


In some cases, they appear to be drawn as you watch, as with a magnificent tree or drawings of faces. Other images are the the famous paintings themselves -- or parts of them, mixed and added to with new elements revealed a bit at a time.


In other cases, vintage photographs are interspersed, setting the scene and period.


The experience included classical art and that taking you through Klimt's career.


I was surprised to see this -- I was familiar with his Woman in Gold and The Kiss, but not a more pastoral style.


People walked about, sat on the floor or steps or simply stood there.


The colors would wash over their faces and bodies, making them part of the art as well.


 It was interactive without being active. You simply had to be, to look -- up, down, around, at the person next to you, at your own hands or clothing -- and you were part of the art.


I think we both wish we could go back and see it again and again and revel in the beautiful images and music.


Below are two videos. This one is shorter and features Hundertwasser's piece. (The rain falling at the end was my favorite part!)


The one below is about four minutes and from the Klimt presentation. Sometimes it goes to black for a few seconds and this is for two reasons -- in some cases, that was just what was on the walls in my view for a few minutes at a time and second, I didn't want to turn too rapidly with that nausea-producing swish-pan video! You'd think that working for a television station for 32 years would give me better video skills, but it's not my wheelhouse. Still, you will get an idea of  how the displays morph into one another and can hear the dynamic the music that accompanies it.


Enjoy. (You'll find other videos on youtube if you search Atelier des Lumiere.)

45 comments:

Running on empty said...

Shared this, as I have with all your Paris posts. Keep em coming!!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, what a wonderful exhibit. The various images are just stunning. The lighting and colors are beautiful. What a lovely show to see, I would be speechless too. Thanks for sharing your visit. Have a happy Friday and a great weekend.

Lynne said...

Stunning Jeanie . . .
Oh my . . . I would love this . ..

Lilbitbrit said...

How wonderful to see such an exhibit. Thank you for sharing that with us.

AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNa said...

Wow! That is so cool!

Sketchbook Wandering said...

Wow!!! Is this a temporary show?? Just dazzling, and i'm happy for you that you were able to fuflill your wish!

Tristan Robin said...

OMG - I would give up important body parts to see this! STUNNING. Thank you SO MUCH for the alert ... now I'm off to youtube up some more clips. I'm agog!

Iris Flavia said...

Wow. You just leave in awe here!
The rain with the puddles is my absolute favorite, that is pure genius!!
But it´s all amazing! AI is also great (though I always have the little boy in my mind now. Hm, or yummy Will Smith, I stick to that!).

Very, very cool!

handmade by amalia said...

There are no words, Jeanie. Lucky lucky you.
Amalia
xo

Joyful said...

Absolutely spectacular!

DUTA said...

Only the French can create such a grand art display. Your win to be there at the right time.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

That is quite amazing! You have so much knowledge, did you study art in university? Take courses? Watch a lot of PBS? -Jenn

Valerie-Jael said...

I am in love with this show, wow, I would so love to see it
Thanks for sharing the wonderful photos. Hugs, Valerie

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I am sure it was a grand experience for you.

Red Rose Alley said...

Oh my goodness, how extravagant! This is so interesting. I can see why you would want to go back and see this. I think my favorite was the lady with the fan. She looks so lovely. Simply amazing, Jeanie.

~Sheri

Joanne Huffman said...

Amazing! Beautiful! I can only guess at how wonderful it was to be immersed in it.

Linda d said...

I saw it too!! It was simply indescribable. Stayed for two entire screenings so I could see it from many angles. So glad you got to it.

Marilyn Miller said...

Breathtaking! If I could hop on the plane right now, I would be there. I saw some pictures on another blog, but with your videos it really makes it come alive. How I love this period of art and to be wrapped inside this cocoon of art I can't even imagine. Beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I knew I would so waited until I had time to sit down and take it all in. Oh sigh!

Pamela said...

How amazing!

My name is Erika. said...

Wow. This looks amazing, and big too. I'm glad it didn't disappoint! I think I would have really enjoyed this also. Thanks for sharing. It was amazing visit from my couch. Hugs-Erika

Susan Kane said...

How utterly amazing.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I was overwhelmed and I wasn't even there. This is an amazing exhibit, and simply out of this world.

Sami said...

I'd never heard of the Atelier des Lumiers and loved the exhibition. So happy you posted your videos it made it all so real.
Amazing Jeanie!!!

peggy gatto said...

Thank you for your glorious photos!

William Kendall said...

Mesmerizing and incredible!

Blondie's Journal said...

This looks spectacular, your photos are awesome-I can only imagine what an experience it is. Thanks for the history lesson, too!

Jane

Louca por porcelana said...

Just amazing!Hugs!

Pam Richardson said...

Jeanie, what an experience, amazing and spectacular! How wonderful and special that you were able to see such a fascinating exhibit and thank you for sharing. I enjoyed it immensely.

Pam said...

Oh WOW, such a cool place for an artist to visit. Loving the colors and the different styles of art. Thank you for sharing, beautiful.

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

Extraordinary images - I'd love to attend this show. They even have paintings from one of my favorite painters. Thanks for sharing.

Sandra Cox said...

How glorious.
Hope your Thanksgiving was as well.

Victoria Zigler said...

I'm glad you weren't disappointed. Although, by the sound of it there's no possible way anyone could be disappointed with that... It sounds incredible.

Tracy said...

WOW... Oh... my... goodness... You are right, Jeanie... not enough words. And I'm all teary, just looking at your images, so I can only just imagine what this must have been like for real, in person and the experiential experience of it all! You know how I LOVE Klimt... so I'm almost speechless at the idea of all this--music and art combined... BRILLIANT! I don't think we'll be able to get there to see this in time... but fun to dream! ;) THANK YOU, Jeanie ((BIG HUGS)) P.S. Hope you & yours had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend!

bj said...

I barely can find words for all this beauty. I can just imagine, you being a artist, how much you enjoyed it all....

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

This is SO COOL. Thanks for sharing the vidoes - helps us understand what it was like to see it in person! What a cool experience to have! This is the kind of place I could go back to again and again!!

BeachGypsy said...

This looks absolutely amazing!!

Sylvia said...

Jeanie, Thanks so much for sharing this post. I loved it!!! What a super innovative concept. The art is beautiful. The videos are great. Have a great week. Sylvia D.

Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes said...

This is absolutely amazing. I want to book a ticket to see it now! Found you at Keep In Touch party :)

Mary K. said...

Jeanie what I would have given to be a bird on your shoulder. It sounds quite amazing, all this light and imagery in front of you. I can only imagine how you must have felt, although you describe it very well. It must be a once in a lifetime memory!

Katie Mansfield said...


Stunning. I would have loved to see that. Thanks for linking to Keep In Touch.

Kirsten Steen said...

Oh mon Dieu... I CANNOT wait to see this! Thank you for these photos!
Xoxo

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

Wow, that was quite the exhibition!!

Calypso In The Country said...

Wow! What an amazing exhibit! Thanks for sharing at Take Me Away this month!
Shelley

Stevenson Q said...

You just keep giving me so much more reasons to visit Paris again whenever I get the chance dearest Jeanie! I can spend a whole day in this exhibit and appreciate all the shows and lights and artforms that are present there, so beautiful!

Thank you so so much for sharing this to Timeless Thursdays dear Jeanie, and again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY <3

Rita said...

That is so strange and beautiful to feel like you are almost inside of the art!
But the other things that brought you awe were just as impressive to me. I also got to hold Ian first after Dagan and Leah right after he was born. Liam it was the next day. Awe--yes! So many things in this world to find awe and amazement. Too many are overlooked every day. :)

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